Cape Town’s iconic First Thursdays event has something in store for everyone – whether it’s art- and design-related, food- and drink-focused, or music events to get down on the dance floor. These are some of the best events taking place on Thursday, 6 August 2026, to celebrate with friends, family, and strangers.
Late Night Thrift: Bold & Beautiful
Late Night Thrift is going Bold and Beautiful in Obs on 6 August, and Lower Main Road will be marking the end of winter in style with loud colours, bold prints, sparkles and sequins and a little extra shine in honour of Women’s Month. Shops on the Thrift Trail will be spilling out onto the pavement, and in addition to rails and rails of great secondhand and sustainable fashion, there’ll be buskers, food trucks, and plenty to catch the eye.
A laidback alternative to First Thursdays in the Cape Town CBD, Late Night Thrift sees Observatory hosting a neighbourly after-hours celebration. By bringing together thrift stores, creative spaces, and social venues, it captures what makes Obs distinct: its sense of community, its alternative edge, and its love for the pre-loved and the quirky.
When: Thursday, 6 August 2026
Where: Lower Main Road, Observatory, Cape Town
Get Bold & Beautiful with Late Night Thrift
HEAT Winter Festival: Opening Night
With 39 events spread throughout a week in Cape Town’s vibrant and busy City Centre, HEAT Winter Festival is a multi-cultural celebration of South African art, its creators, and its community.
The 2026 edition kicks off with an evening of art and choral music, with 14 exhibitions from some of Cape Town’s leading art galleries guiding attendees through the City Centre, backed by the Amici de Lumine Choir. Included in the opener are works from Everard Read, Strauss & Co at Alliance Française du Cap, Union Block (Spier Arts Trust), and 33BREE. The opening night celebration is completely free to attend; more information is available on the website.
When: Thursday, 6 August 2026 | From 6pm
Where: Aspire Art, Mandela Rhodes Place, 21 Church St, Cape Town City Centre
Thirsty Thursdays at Kaya Cafe: Sketch, Wine & Music
One of the biggest hotspots for young people in the city, Kaya Cafe is an intimate space with vibey music, trendy drinks, and filling snacks. On First Thursdays, the venue transforms into a vibrant hub for live performances, including acoustic sets, drag king shows, discussions, and captivating karaoke.
For this month’s edition, Kaya is supplying everyone with sketching supplies and prompts and encouraging everyone to get creative. It’s an inclusive space where every level of artist is welcome, with complete freedom for all attendees to make just what they want.
Later in the night, the space transforms into the usual Thirsty Thursday karaoke floor, with loud sing-alongs where everyone is one big friend group. Every ticket includes a complimentary glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage.
Cost: From R60 per person (early bird). Book now on Fixr.
When: Thursday, 6 August 2026 | 7pm – late | From 9.30pm (karaoke)
Where: KAYA HQ, 35 Loop Street, Cape Town City Centre
HEAT Festival: Giuliette Price & Karla von Solms
HEAT’s musical programme kicks off with jazz vocalist Giuliette Price, returning after a prolonged absence from live shows. With deeply sentimental songwriting and often haunting vocals atop soulful jazz instrumentals, Price is renowned for tracks like Seeking Happiness and Only One, and has shared stages with artists like Zoë Modiga and Alice Phoebe Lou.
She is supported by emerging singer-songwriter Karla von Solms, who creates her own mixed blend of alternative folk, soul and jazz with similarly intimate lyrics.
Cost: R200 per person. Book tickets for HEAT on Quicket.
When: Thursday, 6 August 2026 | 7pm – 9.30pm
Where: Bree Street Community Hall, 4 Steenberg Rd, Tokai, Cape Town
Surfa Rosa
An edgy dive bar with subliminal punk and surf influences, Surfa Rosa is a little bar with a big personality. The vibe is laid back. The music is loud. Situated at street level on Harrington Street, it opens onto an outdoor smoking patio.
THIS MONTH: JHB Takeover
For August, three Johannesburg punk bands are bringing their big city sound to Surfa Rosa. The lineup includes Drunk Wizard, The Burnouts, and Goat Boi, before Fuzznights takes over the acoustics with their usual DJ sets.
Cost: R100 per person. Book now on Quicket. Everyone enters free after the rock concert concludes.
When: Thursday, 6 August 2026 | 7pm – 10pm (ticketed) | From 10pm (free entry)
Where: 61 Harrington St, Cape Town
Ground Art Caffe
Mixing acclaimed coffee with an avant-garde art gallery, Ground Art Caffe is a refined space in the heart of De Waterkant. On the art side, there is always an exhibition on show, with regular First Thursday events that highlight some of Cape Town’s up-and-coming creatives in a more low-key, inviting setting than a luxurious art gallery.
In August, poet and ceramic artist Qwidi (Christi Steyn) showcases some of her work in an exhibition (Altar Ego) inspired by childhood and sandcastles, bringing guests back to a simpler time. Christi Steyn is the author of What the Moon Gave Her and In Her Light.
When: Thursday, 6 August 2026 | 6pm – 8pm
Where: 160 Strand St, De Waterkant, Cape Town
ItsAHouse
One of the Mother City’s biggest House parties, ItsAHouse brings together beloved DJs and fans to form part of the genre’s underground culture. After two successful shows, the party is returning to Kloof cocktail bar Batanga for the final winter edition. Guests can expect ItsAHouse’s resident DJs alongside some special guests, with the lineup to be announced.
Cost: From R150 per person. Book now on Quicket.
When: Thursday, 6 August 2026 | 5pm – 12am
Where: 70a Kloof St, Gardens, Cape Town
The Outlore Base: The Fun House
Hosting many talented artists in the fringe performance scene and pushing the boundaries of what is considered traditional theatre, The Outlore Base is an events space for all manner of live art productions – from absurdist stand-up shows to drag performances and cabaret.
This First Thursday, they are once again putting on a truly diverse variety show. Guests can expect plenty of social games and activities, a “mean” hint hunt (with the fastest detective winning a prize), art, and live performances all night long.
RSVP for free on Quicket.
When: Thursday, 6 August 2026 | 6pm – 10.30pm
Where: 80 Hout St, Cape Town City Centre
Culture Wine Bar
Famous among enthusiasts for its curated selection of wines, ranging from sought-after imports to hidden African gems, Culture Wine Bar is a vibrant social space among the Bree Street favourites. It regularly hosts live music bands, livening up the atmosphere with some of the best up-and-coming local musicians.
In honour of Women’s Month, Culture Wine Bar invites guests to a walk-around wine tasting experience, with Women in Wine at the forefront. The 10+ wine line-up includes Saltare, Luddite, Trizanne, Tesselaarsdal, Vonn, Backsberg, Avontuur, Neethlingshof and Reyneke, with winemakers telling their stories and walking guests through each sip.
Cost: R295 per person. Book now on Quicket.
When: Thursday, 6 August 2026 | 6pm – 9pm
Where: 103 Bree St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town
The Athletic Club & Social
This three-storey bar is a sophisticated wine-and-jazz venue with a Mediterranean menu, cocktails, and a hidden basement bar. Perfect for a couples’ dinner upstairs before heading downstairs to enjoy the grooving melodies of Cape Town’s lively jazz scene, Athletic Club & Social is a great late-night destination for dressing up and enjoying a relaxed evening with loved ones.
This First Thursday, the all-woman jazz ensemble NALA Collective takes over the downstairs lounge with their mix of South African jazz alongside contemporary global sounds. With African percussion, horn sections, and sultry vocals, the rising group is one of the female faces of Cape Town’s soulful future.
Cost: R200 per person. Book tickets now on Fixr.
When: Thursday, 6 August 2026 | 8pm – 10pm
Where: 35 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town City Centre
Bascule Bar
Set on the Waterfront marina, this whiskey and cocktail bar is known for its wide selection of drinks, lush decor, intimate conversations, and a curated collection of African art. On First Thursdays, the space hosts live jazz to enhance the vibrant atmosphere, along with a special offer on Martell cognac.
In celebration of Women’s Month, Bascule Bar is showcasing a playful, feminine-energy-inspired drink in collaboration with Jameson, with six guests on the night being awarded with a Jameson Tasting Flight experience.
When: First Thursdays | 6pm – 12am
Where: Cape Grace Hotel, W Quay Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town
First Thursday at Clay Café in the City
Clay Café in the City is a ceramic painting venue and tapas bar. Enjoy a creative space that strives to teach like-minded adults to be creative, learn new techniques, and just have some fun while exploring, enjoying tapas, and relaxing to relaxing music.
This month’s offering includes a Thirsty Thursday buy-one-get-one-free drinks special, alongside R60 tapas.
Cost: R45 (studio fee) | Book now on Dineplan.
When: First Thursdays (4pm – 10pm)
Where: 199 Bree Street, Cape Town City Centre
Lemkus Gallery
A multi-generational company dating back to 1935, LEMKUS is a space for design and creativity. On the fourth floor is Lemkus Gallery, home of the Residency28 programme.
After Library II – Thulile Gamedze
This collection blends collective reading with speculative design and the wear of clothing. It is a tiny library of clothes and books, designed and procured for the purposes of being worn and being read. The After Library’s interests include (but are not limited to) big, small, and obscure histories of resistance and liberation, Black and Queer subjectivities, Southern African cultural work lineages, and most pressingly, people and the information they bring to both the books they read and the clothes they wear.
When: First Thursdays | 6pm – 8pm
Where: 28 St Georges’ Mall, Cape Town City Centre
House of Machines
The Cape Town destination for bikers, coffee-lovers, and live music enthusiasts, the House of Machines is an always-busy social bar that appeals to a wide range of Capetonians with its varied events, chatty atmosphere, and unique aesthetic. Over the last few years, it has become one of the premier live music spots in the city, often platforming up-and-coming talent at affordable prices.
As always, House of Machines is free to check out on First Thursday, with live DJs playing throughout the night. Guests can expect sets from That Asian Girl, Disco Dez, Jenny Dison, and Boaba Kieka.
When: Thursday, 6 August 2026 | 6pm – late
Where: 84 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town City Centre
Fable
Home to Cape Town’s most innovative and immersive cocktail menu, Fable is also known for its variety of live in-house entertainment, ranging from world-class musicians to professional fire eaters. With a lineup of local DJs and a live saxophone player this First Thursday, Fable is perfect for experienced cocktail enthusiasts wanting to try something new, and complete beginners wanting to see what the hype is about.
Bookings can be made on the website.
When: Tuesday – Sunday | 4.30pm – late (Fri – Sun) | 5pm – late (Tue – Thu)
Where: Corner Bree & Wale St, Cape Town City Centre
The Artists Gallery
This unique independent gallery serves as a beautiful and dynamic space dedicated to showcasing art that ignites inspiration. Situated on vibrant Bree Street, The Artists Gallery is operated by a collective of artists and art enthusiasts to highlight the diverse spectrum of artistic expression, ranging from emerging talents to established figures.
As She Is – Group Photography Exhibition
“Bold Beauty Project, Western Cape Chapter – As She Is is a powerful photographic exhibition celebrating the beauty, strength, resilience, and individuality of women with disabilities. Through striking portraits and deeply personal stories, the exhibition challenges stereotypes, champions inclusion, and reminds us that true beauty is found in authenticity.”
The exhibition is part of the HEAT Winter Festival.
When: First Thursdays | From 6pm
Where: 34 Bree Street, cnr Waterkant Street, Cape Town City Centre
Harringtons
This classic cocktail lounge, restaurant and boutique bar evokes an otherworldly sense of opulence, style and sophistication. With panoramic windows overlooking the bustling nightlife of the East City neighbourhood, the place features lush, inviting décor that takes guests back to a time when disco was alive, and drinks were cheap.
Guests enjoy 40% off selected cocktails, house wines and Harry’s pouring spirits during their Happy Hour from 5pm to 7pm.
When: First Thursdays | 8pm – 3am
Where: Harringtons Cocktail Lounge, 61b Harrington Street, Cape Town
Clarke’s
A favourite among First Thursday gallery hoppers, this well-placed restaurant offers all-day breakfast, acclaimed burgers, and one of the most extensive cocktail lists anywhere in the CBD. With Clarke’s being on Bree Street near most of the big galleries and nightlife spots, it’s a great stop to sip, snack, and groove while keeping the night alive.
When: First Thursdays | 5pm – 11pm
Where: 133 Bree St, Cape Town City Centre
Vault on Bree
Vault on Bree is a new space at the corner of Bree and Castle Street, where Cape Town’s creative community can gather, share ideas, and grow together. Vault on Bree is a place for artists, designers, brands, and innovators to meet, collaborate, and explore new ways of expression. It’s been thoughtfully designed to encourage conversation, connection, and creativity, with the hope of nurturing a stronger sense of community in the city.
In partnership with Phil Kramer, the sound designer behind the system at One Park, the space includes a listening bar that puts music and atmosphere at its heart. Listening bars are intimate spaces dedicated to high-quality sound, inviting people to slow down, pay attention, and experience music more deeply and intentionally.
When: First Thursdays | 6pm till late
Where: c/o Bree and Castle Street, Cape Town City Centre
Everything About Vault on Bree
99 Loop Gallery
The gallery is dedicated to exhibiting contemporary and modern African art, representing a core group of emerging and established artists. These artists are either from the continent or have historic links to the greater African diaspora. Fine art on view includes work on paper, ceramics, photography, painting and sculpture.
A Flower For – Group exhibition
A Flower For brings together five artists for Women’s Month this August. Across painting and print, these artists create distinct worlds of their own, bringing audiences within them through colour, form, and feeling. The curated group includes Amy Ayanda Lester, Carolina Salinas, Laurinda Belcher, Puseletso Masemene, and Zarah Cassim.
When: First Thursdays | 5pm – 8pm
Where: 99 Loop Street, Cape Town
Mojo Silly Thursdays
Mojo Market’s flagship weekly comedy night features new lineups each time, platforming fresh debutants alongside established, veteran acts.
This week, the lineup is hosted by Kurt Langeveld and includes Ismail Moses, Eugene Matthews, and headliner Lindy Johnson.
When: First Thursdays | From 7.30pm
Where: 30 Regent Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town
Openwine
A vibrant wine-focused bar in Wale Street, Openwine brings together walls of sought-after blends with frequent live jazz sessions for a refined tasting and pairing experience. Often importing rare and international wines, Openwine prides itself on stocking unique, small-batch labels outside of the usual big brands found in stores.
For their “Our Beautiful Thursdays” series, they’re hosting live performance sets from many of their house bands, including Three Brothers, Funkoff, and Eleventh Hour, playing throughout the evening.
When: First Thursdays | 8pm – late
Where: 72 Wale St, Cape Town City Centre
Art@Africa
Highly regarded art gallery Art@Africa is dedicated to contemporary African art across a variety of forms and mediums. The gallery prides itself on giving a platform to women in the male-dominated art industry, and showcasing the work of those from various backgrounds around the country.
From Loss To Transformation – Fanuel Moiane
“For Durban-based artist Fanuel Moiane, the ocean became a place of healing. Through the timeless craft of woodblock carving, he transforms fish into powerful symbols of rebirth, growth, and resilience. Entirely self-taught and inspired by the memory of his late brother, Fanuel’s extraordinary works invite us to reflect on our own journeys through adversity and change. The fish become symbols of rebirth, transformation, growth, and the quiet resilience required to navigate life’s currents.”
When: First Thursdays | From 6pm
Where: Art@Africa, Clocktower District (Floor 1), V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Signature Art Gallery: Art, Live Music and Wine Evening
Signature Art Gallery offers a new art experience for collectors, investors, and general art lovers. The gallery carries art by internationally acclaimed artists as well as reputable local and emerging artists whom we have identified as having great potential, thus presenting a wide range of pricing.
Signature Art Gallery invites guests to an evening of art, music, and community this First Thursday. Visitors can enjoy a glass of wine, connect with fellow art lovers, and listen to live music while viewing a diverse collection of top contemporary artworks.
When: First Thursdays | From 6pm
Where: 14 Long Street, cnr of Riebeek & Long Street, Cape Town
Chingadas
This vibrant Tex-Mex restaurant thrives on colourful decor, messy eating, and lots of cocktails. The space is made up of many interleading rooms and multiple fireplaces, ensuring the atmosphere is as warm as the food. It’s a relatively new addition to the trendy spots near Kloof Street, distinguishing itself with its family-friendly environment and proudly Mexican identity.
Chingadas is perhaps best known for its build-your-own margarita, with a handy guide that teaches guests how to make the perfect drink. Its food menu is extensive, with traditional favourites such as nachos and fajitas, as well as unique offerings like avocado fries and a churro cheesecake.
Book a table on Dineplan.
When: Tuesday – Sunday | 12pm – 11pm (Tue – Thu) | 12pm – 12am (Fri & Sat) | 12pm – 9pm (Sun)
Where: 50 Orange St, Gardens, Cape Town
Idiots Unplugged Karaoke at Village Idiot
Those with (and without) singing chops can have some fun on the mic with this karaoke experience. All singers get free shots, and the restaurant offers 50% off food, Happy Hour from 6pm to 8pm and a R500 Bar Tab for Songbird Of The Night.
When: First Thursdays | 6pm – 11pm
Where: The Village Idiot, 32 Loop Street, Cape Town
Vela Projects
Founded in 2022 with a pop-up exhibition, Vela Projects now presents a boutique selection of African artists and offers a programme that resonates with global culture and champions the development of artistic careers.
For August, Vela Projects is showcasing a group exhibition from nine Johannesburg-based artists, all approaching the concept of the city from different psychological, social, and political angles.
When: First Thursdays | 5pm – 8pm
Where: 66 Plein Street, Cape Town
Museum of Gems and Jewellery: Hidden Treasures
The Museum of Gems and Jewellery tells the story of South Africa’s diamonds and precious metals, and how earthly treasures are transformed into precious heirlooms through creativity.
ON SHOW: Hidden Treasures
Discover a world of gemmological and jewellery wonder at the Museum of Gems & Jewellery, housed in the 18th-century Huguenot House. On First Thursdays, explore South Africa’s rich mineral, cultural, and artistic heritage through an intimate, beautifully curated journey spanning 3 billion years.
When: First Thursdays | 5pm – 8pm
Where: 66 Loop Street, Cape Town
Ebony/Curated
Since its establishment in 2015, the gallery has continued to support creatives whose practices engage with intimate lived experiences within broader cultural and aesthetic contexts. Loop Editions is an add-on to the gallery, showcasing artists’ originals, editions, and collectables in a bright, sunny café space adjacent to the gallery.
When: First Thursdays | 5pm – 9pm
Where: 67 Loop Street, Cape Town City Centre
Leo’s Wine Bar
A staple of the First Thursday night out, Leo’s Wine Bar is inside a bagel shop on Bree Street. The shop pours low-intervention wines from smaller producers, with a healthy selection of natural wines always available to enjoy.
When: Monday – Saturday | 5pm – 11pm
Where: Leo’s Wine Bar, 120 Bree St, Cape Town City Centre
Discover more art galleries & events in Cape Town
